Thursday, August 29, 2013

a 4th birthday for gracie belle...

to our sweetest gracie belle,

i cannot believe that you are 4 years old! i've always heard people say how quickly their children grow up and i'm beginning to understand them. i feel like we blinked and you turned from a wild little toddler to a sweet little girl (who is still a little wild).

i look at who you are and i see so much of your daddy bear in you. some of the greatest parts of you come from him- you are so lucky! you have an energy about you, an unending, non-dwindling supply of it that somedays leaves me exhausted. i rarely find your two feet on the floor, i've never seen someone who can find a climbing opportunity with everything they see. my favorite thing to watch you do is run. you have this wild abandon when you run, and you always have a smile on your face. i think you are happiest when you're running and feeling the wind in your hair, just like dad! you are smart and curious. when i hear you talk about things you've discovered it's like i'm discovering them for the first time too. you're favorite adjectives are beautiful, wonderful, amazing and awesome- i love how you think the most simple things are the greatest. a flower, a cloud, a dress, a picture; you are able to find the beauty in everything around you. and you are silly, my goodness you are silly and funny. i can't not laugh when i'm with you, after all, we are the silliest of all the sillies! people will always love that about you! we couldn't have picked a better present for your 4th birthday- our sweet puppy lucy. your love of animals has been with you from the beginning. as you embark on a whole new year with lots of firsts, i hope you find a buddy in her and continue to love her as much as you do now. i'm a little bit sad to see you getting so big, but as i watch your personality emerge it makes me so, so excited for your future. i look at your dad and i see what an amazing man he has become and i know that you will follow in his footsteps. that determined, sweet, energetic, curious side of both of you exhausts me, but brings me more happiness than i ever knew i'd feel.

one of the things i'm most proud about it how sweet and kind you are. i find you reaching out to friends in school and instantly making new buddies. i love how excited you are to play with cousins and watching you interact with them. you love your sister and know how important you are to her. you are so good to always include her. i hope you find that she will be your biggest fan and your best ally all throughout this life. i am grateful every single day that she has you to look up to. i couldn't have picked a better big sister. i hope that you are always able to find the good in the world. there will be times when you have struggles, but if you can continue to be kind and sweet you will always find the positive.

your dad and i had no idea what was in store before we had you. you will always be our first baby and the one who changed our lives. gracie, so much of what we love in this life is because of you. you made us a family and you continue to bring us all together. we feel blessed in every way that we get to be your parents. i know what a huge responsibility we have in raising you to be the amazing little girl you are.

i hope your 4th year is the best yet. it's going to be a big year for you, but if anyone can take it and make the best of it, it's you sweet girl! i love you with every teeny tiny piece of my heart.

This statement was the most beautiful I've ever seen! The best translation of the true love of the mother, the pride he feels for Gracie, the happiness she brought to their lives! You are very lucky! Congratulations Lindsey, being the super mom, and for his precious daughter. Congratulations Gracie Belle for his fourth birthday, for being so beautiful and special. Has many years of life!... (Lovely photos, amazing!) Best regards of Brazil!

How fun to have a reader in Brazil! Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, I can't tell you how much it meant to us! My husband speaks Portuguese, feel free to leave a comment and I'll have fun seeing him translate it!